Spaciousness and altitude

When I’m sitting in my home in France, I live in the shadow of the mountains - so imperious and tall - I sit at my desk, writing my e-mails and taking calls, looking up in awe at them. Like everyone, I live a busy and stressful life and, despite the view, there are moments when it’s difficult to get perspective.

When I take the time to drive to the local ski station and climb 1000m to the very top,  I see my house so differently. The mountains once, so tall, seem much smaller and my house so central to my life is just a speck on the landscape below. Of course, from here, I can’t even see my laptop or phone – the source of much of my stress.

This perspective is so helpful for me, the “altitude” really helps me take a different view of the issues I’m facing and I make better decisions.  

But we can’t all get in cable cars so how can we get a better perspective in our working lives?

As leaders, we are so “full up”, so busy in all those meetings that we have to attend, all that work that we need to get done and all those emails we must respond to. How can we find altitude? How can we find space?

Time will never just magically fall in our laps, we need to create it. Maybe it’s a moment of silence, pulling our chairs back from our desk to think more broadly. Maybe it’s leaving our office and taking a walk around the block. Maybe we can decline a few more meetings or filter our e-mails. Act on what matters today and make space for perspective by letting some things slide that can wait until tomorrow.

How will you take altitude?